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Sony Unveils Powerful Xperia Z3 Smartphones, Z3 Tablet And SmartWatch 3

This Phone Has The Feature You've Always Wanted, Proper Battery Life
Thomas Tamblyn
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Sony has unveiled its largest ever range of products including two powerful new smartphones which Sony claims will have two days of actual battery life.

The Z3 and the Z3 Compact are Sony's two new flagship smartphones. They're waterproof, can play the new HD audio format and will let you play your PS4 through the phone's screen or with a PlayStation 4 controller.

READ MORE: Sony Xperia Z3 + Z3 Compact First Impressions

READ MORE: Sony Smartwatch 3 First Impressions

Sony has also unveiled its first smart watch running Google's wearable operating system Android Wear. The touchscreen and water-resistant Smartwatch 3 can be removed from the strap letting you change the strap depending on your activity.

Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact Features:

The company has announced that the Z3 and the Z3 Compact will be two of the first smartphones to offer two days of battery life.

Now we know you've heard that before but this time Sony is being extremely confident about it. According to Sony execs this isn't two days under test conditions this is two days of texting, tweeting, sharing YouTube videos and playing games.

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Despite this both the Z3 and the Z3 Compact will the company's most powerful handsets yet boasting a state-of-the-art quad-core 801 processor from Snapdragon.

Both phones do not feature a 2K display, instead opting for a significantly improved version of Sony's Full-HD display technology.

A company exec explained that they decided not to use 2K because it was 'very difficult for people to tell the difference' and that the battery consumption just wasn't worth the trade-off.

The Z3 now has the highest waterproof rating for any smartphone and comes with a new softer-edged version of Sony's 'Omnibalance' design.

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For the media lover there's plenty to be excited about as the Z3 and Z3 Compact can now play high resolution audio files, there's also support for micro-USB headphones and for those that don't have a library of high-res music Sony's also included a DSEE HX uprating engine which will boost your standard music to near-high resolution.

Other improvements on both phones includes the camera which remains at 20MP but now features a wider-angle 25mm lens for better imaging.

One of the unique new features for the Z3, Z3 Compact and the Z3 tablet is the ability to play PS4 games. Using the PlayStation app you'll be able to connect to your PS4 over WiFi and then either connect a PS4 controller or play using the screen.

It's important to note that aside from physical size and a difference in RAM, the Z3 and the Z3 Compact share exactly the same specs.

Smartwatch 3:

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This is the latest smart watch from Sony and the company's first to be running Android Wear. Waterproof, the Smartwatch 3 can be popped out from the band and put into different straps.

It comes sporting the standard version of Android Wear along with a couple of unique apps which will allow remote control of Sony's detachable lenses and an app that'l let you control your smartphone's media functions.

Everything else...

Along with the Z3 and Z3 Compact the company announced it would be launching a new 8-inch Android tablet; the Sony Z3 Tablet Compact.

Despite having a convoluted name the tablet will launch sporting similar specs to its smartphone counterparts whilst becoming the thinnest waterproof tablet in the world.

Sony also announced it would be updating its fitness tracker with the new Smartband Talk. Boasting an always-on E-Ink display, the Smartband Talk will measure your activities, sleep and let you answer calls thanks to built-in mic and speaker.

Sony IFA Line-Up
Sony Xperia Z3(01 of07)
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The Z3 is Sony's flagship smartphone. It has a large 5-inch Full-HD display and comes with a fast 2.5GHz quad-core processor. It's also Sony's most waterproof phone ever. The big feature that'll be grabbing the headlines though is Sony's claim that it'll come with two days of battery life, finally solving one of the biggest bugbears that has come with today's modern smartphones.
Sony Xperia Z3 Case(02 of07)
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Sony Z3 Compact(03 of07)
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The Z3 Compact might just be the silent star of the entire range. boasting the same eye-watering specs as the Z3, the Compact crams it down into a much more manageable package. The screen has been increased from the Z1 Compact but Sony has managed to shrink the body, this means smaller bezels and a thinner body. It's waterproof, just like its sibling and while there's a small reduction in RAM, this is essentially the same phone.
Sony Z3 Tablet Compact(04 of07)
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The Z3 Tablet Compact is Sony's somewhat delayed reaction to the success of the iPad Mini. The Z3 Compact is an astonishing 6.4mm thin. It's waterproof -- like its smartphone counterparts -- and it comes with the same Full-HD display. With a massive 4,500mAh battery as well Sony's hoping that the premium features and impressive build-quality will dissuade you from buying with Apple.
Sony Smartwatch 3(05 of07)
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The Smartwatch 3 is Sony's first Android Wear product and in truth it's not really a watch. OK so it looks like one but the smart watch itself is a module that fits inside that rubber strap. This allows Sony to make it waterproof and gives them room to expand past the rubber strap letting you, the consumer, liven things up with new accessories as they're released. It'll also come with a Walkman Remote app and the ability to control Sony's WiFi lenses.
PS4 Remote Play(06 of07)
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The entire Z3 range will launch with the ability to play PS4 games. Simply hook up your Z3 phone or tablet to a PS4 controller using the adaptor and you can use your mobile device as a screen. The games are streamed over WiFi from your PS4 to the tablet and because the phone/tablet connects directly to the PS4 controller you'll never have to worry about lag.
Sony Smartband Talk(07 of07)
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The Smartband Talk is Sony's next version of its niche but well-designed fitness tracker. The Talk adds the benefit of a simple E-Ink display which can show basic health information while the addition of a mic and speaker mean you'll be able to answer calls using just the wristband. Whether or not you're comfortable to do that in public remains to be seen.
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